The MCU‘s Spider-Man 4 has found its director: Destin Daniel Cretton, who previously directed Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Along with the news comes official confirmation that Tom Holland will be returning as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. And not only that, the movie is expected to begin filming next year.
Per THR, Cretton is taking over the franchise within the franchise from previous director Jon Watts. Watts previously helmed Spider-Man: Homecoming, Far From Home, and No Way Home. As Watts has moved on to other projects, speculation has been furious online about who would take over the series. Guesses included previous Spider-Man director Sam Raimi to Batgirl and Bad Boys duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah.
Cretton has worked with Marvel before on Shang-Chi, as well as co-creating and directing episodes of the upcoming MCU series Wonder Man. He was also signed on to director Avengers: Kang Dynasty, but with shifting schedules and changing creative — that movie is now Kang-less, and titled Avengers: Doomsday — Cretton had to drop out. The split was amicable, though, and Marvel was looking for something new for Cretton to direct. Seems that movie is Spider-Man 4, and not, as heavily rumored, Shang-Chi 2.
Providing some sense of continuance, Spider-Man 4 will star Holland, be written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, and Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal are producing. Otherwise, no details are known about the film, though Zendaya will likely return as MJ, per previous reporting here at Comic Book Club. That includes whether this will be another multiverse movie as rumored (baselessly) online, and when the movie will be released. Our speculation? Spider-Man 4 will be released on July 24, 2026, a date mysteriously vacated by a previously untitled Marvel production.
Regardless, with production potentially starting next year, Cretton better be swinging into action soon.